Short and sweet

STOCKTON - The Oakland A's knew they were getting a power hitter and a proven winner when they selected Matt Olson in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

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By Richard Estrada

recordnet.com

By Richard Estrada

Posted Jul. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Richard Estrada

Posted Jul. 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By The Numbers

Ports first baseman Matt Olson has raised his average and home run total, while reducing his strikeouts, by shortening his swing and tracking pitches during his second full year of professional bal...

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By The Numbers

Ports first baseman Matt Olson has raised his average and home run total, while reducing his strikeouts, by shortening his swing and tracking pitches during his second full year of professional ball. His statistics entering Tuesday:

Year Team At-bats Avg. HR RBI K BB

2013 Beloit 471 .225 23 93 148 72

2014 Stockton 314 .239 24 56 82 76

Totals 2 seasons 795 .239 47 149 230 148

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STOCKTON - The Oakland A's knew they were getting a power hitter and a proven winner when they selected Matt Olson in the first round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

Olson had just led Parkview High to a second consecutive Georgia state title and was headed to Vanderbilt on scholarship.

The A's knew he had talent and they knew he had options, but only Olson knew how anxious he was to play professional baseball.

"Growing up, baseball was a passion for me. I had always been around the game," said Olson, whose father, Jack, and brother, Scott, played collegiate baseball. "I didn't sign up for this job just so I could put the money in the bank. I loved the idea of the challenge."

Olson, 20, has thrived since banking his $1.07 million signing bonus.

The Ports first baseman and outfielder belted his California League-leading 24th home run of the season in Friday's 17-6 rout of San Jose. That topped the 23 he hit last season at Beloit, the A's mid-level Single-A team in Wisconsin.

At 6-foot-5, Olson has an improved eye, too. He struck out 148 times and walked 72 times at Beloit - a 2-to-1 ratio - but he's been more efficient this season - 82 strikeouts to go with 76 walks, both team highs, entering Tuesday's game against Modesto.

"I knew my biggest issue would be my long swing," said Olson, who hit .225 in 2013 and is batting .239 through 86 games this season. "Being 6-5, I've got long limbs and I've always had a long swing."

That means it takes a fraction of a second longer for Olson's bat to travel across the plate, a moment in time that can be the difference between a home run and a strikeout.

Pure talent allowed Olson to dominate high school pitchers - a .440 average, 28 homers and 106 RBI his final two seasons - but a shorter swing and plate discipline will be the keys to his pro career.

"Staying short through the (strike) zone, I'm able to adjust to the pitch and make better contact," he said.

Olson's 24 home runs are second in all of minor-league baseball. He is one behind John Lindsey, a first baseman in the Triple-A Mexican League, and a 20-year minor league veteran.

As his pitch selection improves, it should help Olson avoid long hitless streaks.

After going 8 for 25 (.320) with four home runs in a six-game swing through Lancaster and Bakersfield in late June, Olson was hitless in 11 at-bats with six strikeouts in last week's three-game homestand.

It could have become the first stage of a slump, but Olson focused on being selective Friday and had a double, a home run and four RBI.

"You could have four or five bad streaks over the season, but you want those to be 0 for 10, not 0 for 20," said Olson, the A's No. 5 prospect, according to MLB.com. "I'm at the park five, six hours before a game, so I can get into the cage before team batting practice."

Olson's focus is on tracking the pitch as it approaches and crosses the plate, to keep from pulling his head as he starts his swing.

"The best way to get out of a slump is to maintain your routine during batting practice," he said. "Sometimes you're hitting it hard, right at someone. Other times, you're just not swinging well."